Brunswick Stew

Brunswick Stew

This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.

If youโ€™re in the mood for some serious comfort food with a twist, this Brunswick Stew is the way to go. Itโ€™s got sizzling onions and garlic, BBQ sauce, and tender pulled pork all in one pot! Add a bit of cayenne for some zing and sweet corn and lima beans for texture. This combination of ingredients is so hearty and makes the best fall meal!

โ€˜Tis the season for soups and stews! If youโ€™re looking for more tasty ways to warm yourself up from the inside-out, try this reader-favorite chili, Guinness beef stew, or Hungarian goulash!

Top-down view of Brunswick stew served in a stoneware bowl.

Brunswick Stew Recipe

Letโ€™s talk Brunswick Stew. This tasty dish comes from Brunswick, Georgia, and itโ€™s like a big, warm food hug. (Seriously, itโ€™s so cozy!) Youโ€™ve got pulled pork, BBQ sauce, sweet corn, and beans all cooking together to delicious perfection.

This stew has a bit of kick from the cayenne pepper, but itโ€™s not too spicy. The whole family can enjoy it! So, why should you try it? Well, if you havenโ€™t already, youโ€™re missing out on a slice of down-home, smoky goodness thatโ€™ll make your taste buds jump for joy. Itโ€™s perfect for cozy weeknight dinners and will have everyone in your family wanting a second bowl. The flavor is just so good!

Brunswick Stew Ingredient List

Gather up all these ingredients and combine them to create the most hearty, delicious Brunswick stew!

  • Butter (Unsalted): Adds a rich and creamy base to the stew. Salted butter also works, just omit the extra salt added later.
  • Yellow Onion: Finely chopped so your stew has sweet and savory flavor all throughout.
  • Garlic: Use fresh minced garlic to give this stew irresistible flavor.
  • Chicken Stock: Chicken stock is the foundation of the stew. It makes it rich and savory.
  • Fire Roasted Tomatoes: So the stew has a delicious smoky flavor.
  • Tomato Paste: For more concentrated tomato flavor.
  • Barbecue Sauce: This is what gives Brunswick stew its distinct flavor. Make your own BBQ sauce or use your favorite jarred kind!
  • Worcestershire Sauce: So the stew has a more complex, umami flavor.
  • Sweet Corn: To add delicious texture to the stew.
  • Lima Beans: Add protein and a creamy texture.
  • Cayenne Pepper: Just a pinch of cayenne pepper brings a gentle spicy heat that keeps things exciting. If you like it hot, add more to taste. To make your stew more mild, use less or omit it completely.
  • Salt and Pepper: Adjust the flavor to your liking!
  • Smoked Pulled Pork: A BBQ classic, pulled pork adds smoky, meaty goodness to the stew.

Letโ€™s Make Some Stew!

Brunswick stew only takes 15 minutes to prepare, then all you need to do is let the ingredients simmer together and get all delicious. Itโ€™s easy to make large quantities of, perfect for potlucks, barbecues, holiday dinners, you name it!

  1. Sautรฉ Onions and Garlic: Heat the butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Then sautรฉ the onions in the butter until they are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sautรฉ for another 2 minutes.
  2. Add Ingredients to Pot: To the pot add the tomatoes, tomato paste, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, corn, lima beans, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, and pulled pork.
  3. Cook: Stir everything together until it is all well incorporated. Bring the stew to a boil then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer the stew for about an hour.
  4. Serve: Remove the stew from heat and then serve fresh with additional BBQ sauce drizzled over the top.
3-photo collage of all the stew ingredients being mixed together.

Tasty Variations

Brunswick stew is super easy to customize with what you have in the fridge. Here are a few simple ways to switch things up!

  • Make it Spicy: For a spicier stew, add additional cayenne pepper, or fresh minced jalapeno peppers! You could also add a splash of your favorite hot sauce.
  • Make it Meaty: Throw in some sliced smoked sausage for an even meatier version of this Brunswick stew.
  • Make it Sweet: So your stew is a little sweeter, mix in a tablespoon of brown sugar, and feel free to add more to taste. You could also add a squeeze of honey.
  • Use Your Favorite BBQ Sauce: You can use any barbecue sauce of your choice, I used Sweet Baby Rayโ€™s. If you want to go the extra mile you can make it from scratch using this Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe.
  • More Mix-Ins: Try adding in roasted poblano peppers, black beans, celery, olives, or chopped bell peppers!

Cooked Brunswick stew in a large pot, being scooped up with a ladle.

Storing Leftover Brunswick Stew

Brunswick stew makes the BEST leftovers. Just pop it in an airtight container and stick it in the fridge until youโ€™re ready to enjoy it again!

  • In the Refrigerator: Store in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
  • Reheating: Reheat over the stove on medium heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through.

An individual serving of the soup made of bbq sauce, pulled pork, corn, and fire-roasted tomatoes.

Serve Your Brunswick Stew With These Tasty Sides

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

  • Heat the butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Saute the onions in the butter until they are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for another 2 minutes.

  • To the pot add the tomatoes, tomato paste, barbecue sauce, worcestershire sauce, corn, lima beans, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, and pulled pork.

  • Stir everything together until it is all well incorporated. Bring the stew to a boil then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer the stew for about an hour.

  • Remove the stew from heat and serve fresh with additional BBQ sauce drizzled over the top.

Calories: 330kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 11gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 1512mgPotassium: 376mgFiber: 1gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 552IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 69mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.